Maryland Legislature Sends Sunday Hunting Bill to Governor

The ability to hunt on Sunday is taken for granted in many parts of the USA, but “the colony” states have been slow to adopt it. Virginia adopted Sunday hunting this year and Maryland is following that lead in its western counties. if you’ve never considered the Free State as a hunting destination, you should know that deer are so abundant that the limit is 36 in most of the state and you can hunt every big and small game species (except black bear) in archery, muzzleloading, and firearm seasons for under $200 in license cost. With this new law, sportsmen, and women will be more inclined to visit for the weekend and locals get an extra day to enjoy their favorite sport. The United States Sportsmen’s Alliance shares all the details:

A pair of bills in Maryland to open up additional Sunday hunting opportunities passed the Senate on Friday, April 4th. The bills will now head to the desk of Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley. Maryland is one of the few remaining states that continue to greatly restrict the ability of sportsmen to hunt on Sundays. The bills, HB 406 and HB 432, would open up new hunting opportunities in the western portion of Maryland. HB 406 allows Sunday hunting for all species in Allegany, Garrett, and Washington Counties. HB 432 opens Sunday deer hunting in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington Counties.

The bills, which both cleared the full Senate by a vote of 43-4, now head to the Governor’s desk for his approval. “Maryland and West Virginia are capitalizing on the momentum from the this year’s Sunday Hunting Coalition victory in neighboring Virginia to end prohibitions on Sunday hunting,” said Jake McGuigan, Director of Government Relations/State Affairs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. more

Joe Byers has more than 1,000 magazine articles in print and is currently a field editor with Whitetail Journal, Predator Xtreme, Whitetails Unlimited, Crossbow Revolution, and African Hunting Journal magazines. He’s spent the last three decades depicting the thrill of the chase and photographing the majesty of all things wild. Byers is a member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association and numerous other professional and conservation organizations.